Leveling bracket



1954 w. R. COCKRELL 2,668,744

LEVELING BRACKET Filed Aug. 27, 1952 Fig.

Walton R Cache/l O INVENTOR.

BY Am W Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEVELING BRACKET Wclton R. Cockrell, Mexia, Tex.

Application August 27, 1952, Serial N 0. 306,628

1 Claim.

same to the instrument panel in a level position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved service tray adapted to be carried by a vehicle instrument panel, mounting means for said service tray permitting removal of said service tray and the retraction of a support arm therefor beneath the dash panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle service tray which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle instrument panel, said vehicle service tray being provided with suitable clamp means whereby the same may be adjustably and removably connected to the support means carried by a vehicle instrument panel.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the complete vehicle service tray and shows the same secured to a vehicle dash panel, the vehicle instrument panel being shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through support means for the service tray, the support means being shown in a retracted position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective view of a tray and shows the relationship of a clamp bracket carried thereby for engagement with the support means carried by the instrument panel; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the support means carried by the instrument panel and shows the general relationship of a support arm with respect to a mounting bracket which is engageable with the instrument panel.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the subject of this invention is a vehicle service tray which is referred to in general by the reference numeral I0. The vehicle service tray II) is adapted to be mounted on and 2 supported by a vehicle instrument panel, such as the instrument panel l2, and includes support means, which is referredto in general by the reference numeral l4, and tray means, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. Referring now to Figures 2 and 4 in particular,

it will be seen that the support means includes a mounting bracket, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral l8, and a support arm 26. The mounting bracket l8 includes a rectangular cross sectional sleeve portion 22 through which the support arm 20 is passed. The bottom wall of the sleeve portion 22 is provided with a centrally located boss 24 which is internally threaded. Threadedly engaged through the boss 24 is a lock fastener 25 which includes a threaded shank portion 28 and a knob portion 30 in the lower end thereof for rotating the same. The upper end of the shank portion 28 includes a support arm engageable with enlargement 32 which engages the lower surface of the support arm 20 and clamps the same up against the upper wall of the sleeve 22.

The sleeve 22 also includes extensions 34 of its side walls, the extensions 34 terminating in outwardly directed flanges 36. Each of the flanges 36 has associated therewith a fastener 38 which is adapted to pass through an opening in the lower portion of the instrument panel I2 for securing the mounting bracket [8 thereto. Also carried by each of the flanges 36 is a levelling fastener 40 which is engageable with the underside of the instrument panel I 2 for moving said support arm 20 into a horizontal plane.

When the support means I4 is not being utilized for the supporting of tray structure IS, the support arm 20 is moved to a retracted position beneath the instrument panel l2 and is secured thereto by the fastener 26. When it is desired to utilize the support arm for supporting a tray structure, the support 20 is slid through the sleeve portion 22 of the mounting clamp l8. It will be noted that the support arm 20 is provided with a depending flange 42 at the forward end thereof for engagement with the sleeve portion 22 to limit movement of the support arm 20 therethrough.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 in particular, it will be seen that the tray structure l6 includes a generally rectangular tray 44 which has secured to the bottom surface thereof a clamp bracket which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 46. The clamp bracket 46 also includes a rectangular cross sectional sleeve 48 which has receivable therethrough the support arm 20. In order that the support arm 20 ment, n0t shownlfor engagement-with the un-;

d rs qeq the support arm 27] to" clamp the same within the sleeve 48.

Integral with the top wall of the sleeve por;

tion 48 is a T-shaped formation which includes a transverse bar 58 and a longitudinal bar 60'; It is intended that the bars 58,and,0 be se; curecl to the bottom of the tray dfby'" suitable fastening means including solderingCoi. welding.

When the vehicle service tray Wis notin use,

attaching" flanges, each of said attaching flanges being provided with a fastener for securing its rethe tray construction 16 1s stored'beneath the seat of a vehicle or in a similar out-of-the-way sitioned as tiontothe positiofi"of support meansior a tray "position and'the'support arm 211 is'retracted bef heath the in'st'rhmntp'anel 'I'ZI' When it is de-" s'iiredtdtutilizeth'vehicle service tiayj'ifi, the """support arm 2t ismoved to ue'pessidon111113 trated inFiguie' '1 'a'nd'the tray construction It ""is'jmounted' thereon. By "properly f,:tightening" down" the" adjustment "fasteners" 26 I and 54, it will be seen thatthe tray 44 may desired with respect'tdthe ins rument f ape1,,|2. In view"'of"the foregoing, it'willbe seen that 30 thfvehicl "service tray I'll p'ermits'b oth the "removal era tray," sfuch as thetrayd l; from its "supp ortslf to afiout-of-the-way position "in addi-' lq ing, bracket including a central sleeve portion;

-,,Ha vi-n g ,described the cited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claim.

h invention, what is claimed asnew is: a

For use with a vehicle service tray of the type including a support arm, a mounting bracket forattaching a tray support arm to an inturned lower flange of an instrument panel, said mounta pair ofppppsitely disposed outwardly directed spective attaching flange to a lower flange of an. instrument panel, a second fastener. adjust- ,ably.,ca1'ried:..by, each ,of said attaching jlanges for engaging a lower flange,-of an instrument .panel. to .level said sleeve portion whereby a M vehicle, service tray, supported by said mounting A 'wenrbnafcicemm.

plumber Name p Date 1,698,615 19,1 5, 1929 2,080,261 May "l1, 1937 "2,125,479 Aug: 2, 8 2, 8 Au 30, 1949 j 2,549,753 ,A r. 24, 1951 2,593,222 'Tra'cy Apr. 15, 1 

